Adams and Reese Partner Chris D’Amour has served as the Board Chair of the Justice & Accountability Center of Louisiana for the past three years. The JAC staff, with the leadership of Sen. Royce Duplessis, worked to pass Senate Bill 111, signed into law by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on June 11.
The bill provides for system upgrades to the expungement process, essentially streamlining it and making the process easier and affordable, removing barriers to enable people who are already legally entitled to an expungement to do so.
“I am proud of the staff and leadership at the Justice and Accountability Center in working to pass this important legislation. This work began several years ago with the leadership of former Representative Ted James and continued under the leadership of Sen. Royce Duplessis. This has been four years of hard work and dedication from many people involved in getting this much-needed, landmark legislation across the finish line,” said D’Amour. “Having a criminal record, even for non-violent offenses, can severely limit one's access to employment, education, housing, civic engagement, and public assistance.”
The JAC was founded in 2011 to help formerly incarcerated individuals gain access to employment. Through policy advocacy, public education, and legal representation, the JAC works to eliminate obstacles to opportunity for people harmed by the systemic racism and economic impacts of the criminal legal system.
At Adams and Reese, D’Amour concentrates his practice in litigation and insurance law, defending insurance companies and commercial entities, handling matters out of every office across the firm’s footprint. He has successfully handled many jury trials in federal and state court involving commercial litigation. In the New Orleans community, in addition to his leadership role with the JAC, D’Amour currently serves on the Board of the Data Center, is a former Board Chair of the Urban League of Louisiana, former Board Chair of the Priestley School of Architecture and Construction, served on the Executive Committee of Boys Hope/Girls Hope, received New Orleans City Business Leadership in Law, is recognized by Best Lawyers, and is a member of the National Institute of Trial Academy and Order of Barristers.